Answered By: Katelin
Last Updated: Dec 08, 2023     Views: 3215

Sarasota County Libraries offers cloudLibrary and Hoopla for our main selection of ebooks and downloadable audiobooks.  These services are not compatible with Amazon's e-ink readers Kindle Paperwhite or Oasis, but it does work with Kindle Fire.  

If you have a Kindle Fire, you can also download the Hoopla app from Amazon.

cloudLibrary is available as a free app for Kindle Fires. It is not available in the Amazon app store, but it can be downloaded onto a Kindle Fire directly from cloudLibrary's website. Please click here for more information on how to download the app onto your Kindle Fire. 

If your device uses apps, such as for cloudLibrary and Hoopla, remember that you do not need the Kindle app.  Just select "ePub" format, which is the default for ebooks to read.

You might also want to check out some free ebooks through a few reputable sources:

1. Project Gutenberg.  This resource offers free ebooks and has been in service since 1971.  You can choose to read over the Kindle format. 

2. The Open Library is another freely-available ebook resource. This collection is provided through the Internet Archive. 

3. The Digital Public Library of America features the Palace Bookshelf, with many free ebooks.

Happy Reading!

 

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Comments (6)

  1. SCPL used to use the Libby digital platform which allows most of their ebooks to be opened on a phone or tablet’s Kindle app, and thus be used toward the quarterly Kindle Reading Challenges. Once you open a library ebook on Kindle, you can often purchase the Audible narration at a reduced rate over the usual Audible cost. A year or two ago you inexplicably dropped the Libby platform, and now use Hoopla and CloudLibrary, which means ZERO ebooks from SCPL can now be opened in the Kindle app. Why oh why would you take away patrons’ ability to open their SCPL books on their Kindle app??? I have wondered if you have experienced any fewer numbers of ebooks read on CloudLibrary and Hoopla over the years you subscribed to Libby. It’s possible the Covid years were a boost to ebook readership, and it was during that period SCPL dumped Libby. Rather than two digital platforms that can’t open any ebooks on the Kindle app, why don’t you subscribe to one that does allow ebooks to be opened on a Kindle app, and one that does not? PLEASE return to Libby!!!!!! Although I still check out books on CloudLibrary I’m just not reading them anymore, because I can’t count them toward my Kindle Challenge. I’ve read 76 books this year so far, most of them digital library books from other libraries where I have homes, but I don’t think I’ve finished more than a handful of ebooks at SCPL solely because of the inability to open your books on Kindle. I can’t believe there aren’t other patrons who feel similarly. Even so, if you did have the ability to open ebooks on the Kindle app, it would be an opportunity to promote your library as giving patrons the ability to participate in the 4 annual Kindle Reading Challenges which are a lot of fun, more fun than just doing the Goodreads annual Reading Challenge.
    by Wildberry on Jun 17, 2023
  2. Please bring back the Libby app or another that allows Kindle owners to borrow books. I miss having the ability to borrow from the library!
    by Cane on Aug 06, 2023
  3. Cannot believe you discontinued the Libby app. Very sad. Please participate with Libby again. Lifesaver for those who can’t get out and read on their kindle.
    by Sher on Sep 24, 2023
  4. I am another patron who is still waiting for the return of Libby, The inability to use Kindles at SCPL is surprising, since they are the easiest e-reader to use outdoors (beach).
    by pete on Dec 23, 2023
  5. Count me in as another disappointed voracious reader who cannot use my Kindle with library books. I think it may have something to do with Amazon vs some of the libraries. I extremely dislike my Kindle Fire. It is so touchy and can’t be relied on to work properly at any given moment not to mention the screen cannot compare with the Kindle Paperwhite. Please return to the Libby app for ebook downloads.
    by Joan C on May 22, 2024
  6. Another sad user.... can you please bring back Libby / Kindle ???????
    by Kari on Jun 15, 2024

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